Researchers Take Second and Third Place In Intellectual-Property-To-Market Competition
MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Tech’s two entries in the Southeastern Universities Research Association’s (SURA) Intellectual Property to Market (IP2M)
competition took second and third place. The competition, called an “elevator pitch” event, pitted university team entrants in Washington, D.C., this
month.
Kunal Mitra, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at Florida Tech, earned second place for his
presentation of Non-Invasive Early Cancer Diagnostics, a short- pulse, laser-based optical tomography system. Mitra’s development intent is geared towards
a non-invasive, real-time cancer diagnostic system, which is less expensive, more comfortable and faster than current market technology. His award was a
workshop prize sponsored by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance.
On Mitra’s team are Florida Tech Professor of Business Carolyn Fausnaugh, Florida Tech Director of Technology Transfer Robert Merrill, Richard Fox of
Astralis Group LLC and Ari Schular of Raydiance Inc. Syed Murshid, Ph.D., Florida Tech associate professor of electrical engineering, earned his
third-place award for Spatial Domain Multiplexing. This unique telecommunications solution multiplies bandwidth using existing fibers running near or at
capacity. The patented technology, a simple retrofit or add-on for existing telecommunications hardware, promises to quadruple the amount of information
carried on a single fiber. Murshid received a market and advisory report sponsored by FedEquity LLC as his award.
On Murshid’s team from Florida Tech are Robert Merrill and Department of Engineering Systems Department Head Muzaffar Shaikh. From industry are Michael
Martin of Tech Transfer Associates, Richard Fox of Astralis Group LLC and Paul Suchoski of Optium Corp.
Jerry P. Draayer, SURA president and CEO, said, “We are very pleased to bring these promising technologies and teams together in this first of its kind
event. Providing collaborative, supportive commercialization opportunities is a big part of the SURA mission.”
SURA seeks to support technology commercialization through seed stage investments for university spinoff companies and to create opportunities for
licensing university technologies and promoting university-industry innovation.
The IP2M competition is designed to highlight, promote and challenge the most promising technologies, intellectual property and talent from SURA member
colleges and universities.
